City Club Says Oregon Should Go Easier on Juvenile Sex Offenders
Thursday, November 06, 2014
The proposal calls for changes to the state sex offender registration laws, which presently requires anyone convicted of a Class A or B felony sex crime to register for life, regardless of whether or not a judge sees registration as necessary.
Oregon is one of six states that require that sex offenders remain registered for life.
Under Oregon's criminal code, even consensual sex between two minors of the same age can garner a serious indictment. One example cited in the city club report was of two 17-year-olds who engaged in consensual sex and made a video recording of the act. Under the law, if they showed their sex-tape to even one other person, they would be guilty of Using a Child in a Display of Sexually Explicit Conduct - a felony sex crime requiring the offender to register for-life.
Approximately 8 percent of registered sex offenders in Oregon were convicted before the age 18. The City Club report stated that researchers were unable to determine whether registering sex offenders reduced the likelihood they'll re-offend. However, recidivism rates for juvenile sex offenders are “incredibly lower” than offenders convicted as adults, especially after completing a counseling program.
The nonpartisan civic organization, led by former Portland mayor Sam Adams, released the report that called the current registration system “inflexible,” adding that its complicated nature allows for problems, including sex crimes going underreported and prosecutors being discouraged from bringing charges that they would have brought otherwise.
“It is probably true to say that no child in Oregon understands them,” the document stated.
Janus Youth Program in Northeast Portland was referenced for reporting a zero percent recidivism rate for juvenile offenders who completed treatment at their facility.
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It